Five vulnerable adults EACH DAY flagged as being at risk of abuse or neglect in care homes

Five vulnerable adults a day were “alerted” to the authorities as being at risk of abuse or neglect in Middlesbrough care homes.

Alerts and referrals from care homes in Middlesbrough constitute the highest number of referrals from any sector, a Middlesbrough Council report has revealed.

In 2013/14 there were 1,100 alerts from care homes, of which 312 were referred into full safeguarding procedures.

A total of 65% of alerts and referrals came from care homes.

Referrals can vary from serious medication errors, concerns that carers have abused or neglected a resident or concerns that family members are financially abusing a resident.

Erik Scollay, assistant director in social care, said: “There are numerous reasons for this that include awareness and training, increased regulation of the sector and contract monitoring.”

He added that the high percentage “may represent under-reporting in the community”.

Details from the report were discussed at a council social care and adult services scrutiny panel meeting yesterday.

The meeting was the first of a series covering safeguarding vulnerable adults in residential care before the Care Act 2014 is implemented April 1.

The panel - chaired by Cllr Mick Thompson - heard from Mr Scollay, as well as Rachel Mawer, from the wellbeing, care and learning team, and Mike Sharman, safeguarding manager for Middlesbrough.

Ms Mawer said the council meets members from the national watchdog Care Quality Commission every second month.

Mr Sharman said the authority has strong links with James Cook University Hospital, which has its own safeguarding adults nurse.

The council’s part in monitoring contracts of care home providers means it ensures employees are DBS (formerly CRB) checked, up-to-date with their training such as moving and handling, dementia training and safe handling of medications, as well as specific alert training.

The authority also has the power to suspend new placements immediately if there are serious concerns in a care home although Mr Scollay said this is used “sparingly”.

Cllr Jeanette Walker said at the end of the meeting that she was reassured that: “Middlesbrough is on the ball to make sure our residents are safe - and long may it continue.”

Members of the panel plan to meet care home managers at the next meeting.

The Care Act defines a vulnerable adult as an adult at risk who: has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs); is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect, and; as a result of those needs is unable to protect him/herself against the abuse or the neglect or the risk of it.

Safeguarding adults advice was introduced in 2000.

This defined who is a vulnerable adult and also a gave local authorities responsibility to co-ordinate response to concerns of abuse.

This guidance is superseded by the Care Act 2014, which has added a duty to make enquiries; a Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) at each local authority and a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) which replaces the term Serious Case Reviews.